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“Eun,” I call to him, but he ignores me and takes out his cell.
“He’s upset,” Lina whispers low.
I smile sadly at my friend. “I don’t know why.”
“I do.” Jay grins at me sadly.
Before I ask Jay to explain, Eun announces, “Min Jun is waiting for us at the hotel.” His attention never leaves his phone screen.
“Are you going to be okay with that?” Lina asks.
“I guess,” I say honestly. I could have said no to coming here with them this weekend since Eun had warned me that Min Jun was joining us. But Eun was right. It’s the past, and I do need to move on from it.
For the rest of the car ride, we four are quiet. I can see the tension in Eun’s stiff body, though, and the way he keeps his gaze averted from me shows that he’s definitely upset with me. Out of anyone, he should understand my reason for not talking about Rafe. Eun is in the entertainment industry, and he knows firsthand about NDA contracts. He had to sign one regarding the incident with me and Min Jun.
I decide that when we get to the hotel, I’ll pull him aside and talk to him. The last thing I want is for this weekend to turn out to be a bad one.
The car pulls up in front of the building, stops, and the porter opens the door. “Welcome back, Mr. Park,” he says to Eun, who gets out and walks past the man without uttering a word.
I glance at Lina, and she rolls her eyes. She is probably thinking the same thing as I am. Eun is such an ass sometimes, but he is still our friend.
Jay exits, with Lina right behind him. The moment I slide out of the vehicle, I see Eun talking to Min Jun by the entrance.
A twinge of unease settles in my stomach, but I slowly approach the pair.
“Hey, Yeong—or should I call you Lyric now? How are you?” Min Jun asks as he turns to face me. He looks me up and down with appraisal, but not in a salacious way, which eases some of the tension in my gut. “The U.S. has treated you well.”
“It has. How about—”
“Lyric.” A strident but familiar, rich and raspy voice reaches my ears. A prickle of unease skates down my spine. I slowly turn and my heart stops at the sight. Rafe D’Angelo strides up until he is mere inches from me, bends his head so we are eye to eye, and frowns. “Thanks for ghosting me.”
Chapter Five
Rafe
The frenzied need to pick Lyric up, haul his ass over my shoulder fireman style and carry him to my hotel room stalls the moment a short, pretty blond guy rushes up to Lyric, latches onto his arm and squeals, then looks at me.
“You’re Rafe D’Angelo! Rafe D’Angelo from Warrior Black! I can’t believe you are here!” He quickly looks around as he releases Lyric’s arm and claps both hands in a prayer gesture. “Is the rest of your hunky band here too? Please tell me yes.”
My eyes slide to Lyric, who is smirking. “Who’s this guy?” I ask, taking a step back from the blond, who slides closer to me.
“This is my friend, Jay Malone. Jay, this is—”
“I know his name—I just said it. Rafe D’Angelo. The lead guitarist for Warrior Black. Lyric, are you going deaf?” the guy called Jay huffs out.
Jay nudges Lyric out of the way and steps into my space. “Hi. I’m your biggest fan—holy crap. I sound like one of those stalkers in a movie about who stalks people. Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Hi. I’m Jay. I promise you I’m not a stalker.”
My eyes widen, ready to tell the guy to back up, when Lyric drags Jay away, apologizing on his behalf. “Sorry. He had too much caffeine.”
“No, I didn’t,” Jay says in a hiss as Lyric tries to push him away.
Another man, equally beautiful, approaches with yet another guy close behind him. “You are Rafe.” The man in front says as he extends a hand. “We have heard so much about you. I’m Eun, Lyric’s best friend. And this Min Jun.” Eun motions to the man behind him.
I shake Min Jun’s hand first and then Eun’s. “Nice to meet you both.” I try releasing Eun’s hand, but he tightens his grip and says in a low growl, “Lyric doesn’t want you here.”
I pull my hand away and look the asshole up and down. He’s a few inches taller than me, but I still sneer at him. “Lyric can tell me that himself.”
That quick interaction tells me all I need to know about where I stand with Eun. But I’m not so sure about Min Jun. Yet, this close, I can clearly see the jealousy in both men’s eyes, especially when Eun glances at Lyric. And I don’t like it.
